Memoir of the Life of Eli Whitney. 227 



Drought against Messrs. Miller &£ Whitney, for the recovery of twenty 

 thousand dollars which as part of the contract, had been paid them. 

 At the last session of the Legislature, Mr. Whitney was enabled not 

 only to furnish satisfactory evidence of his being the original inventor of 

 the gin, but to explain away all former misrepresentations, and to show 

 that the very Patent of the person who had attempted to wrest from 

 him his right, had been repealed in a court of justice. Two models of 

 a gin were also furnished by Mr. Whitney, executed we are told in a 

 most superior and masterly manner, and far surpassing in excellence, 

 any machinery of the hind ever before seen — they were of metal, 

 and so nicely, and substantially made, that it was hardly possible for 

 them to get out of order ; and they worked with such ease, that when 

 the hopper of a forty Saw Gin was filled with cotton, the labor of turn- 

 ing it was not greater than that of turning a common grindstone. 

 The models were highly approved, and the Legislature did not hes- 

 itate to do justice to the ingenious inventor, according to their origin- 

 al agreement; and we are pleased to see that they disclaimed the 

 monstrous doctrine, of a Legislature's having authority to rescind a 

 solemn contract made with an individual, and of their being justified 

 in refusing to do right, because they have the power to do wrong. 



" Our sister State of South Carolina, has usually been very far 

 from discovering any disposition to do injustice to individuals, and 

 their proceedings against Mr. Whitney, were predicated upon impo- 

 sition practised on them, and their recent conduct evidences that they 

 were satisfied thereof. 



" The following is the report of the committee. 

 " The joint Committee of both branches of the Legislature, to whom 



was referred the memorial of Eli Whitney, 



" Report, that on the most mature deliberation, they are of opinion 

 that Miller & Whitney, from whom the State of South Carolina pur- 

 chased the patent right for using the Saw Gin within this State, have 

 used due and proper diligence to refund the money and notes receiv- 

 ed by them from divers citizens ; and as from several unforeseen 

 occurrences the said Miller h Whitney have heretofore been pre- 

 vented from refunding the same; they therefore recommend that 

 the money and notes aforesaid, be deposited with the Coibiptroller 

 General, to be paid over on demand, to the several persons from 

 whom the same have been received, upon their delivering up the 

 licences for which the said notes of hand were given, and said 

 monies paid to the Comptroller General, and that he be directed to 

 hold the said licences subject to the order of said Whitney, 



